Means for regulating the expression of mechanical musical instruments.



No. 754,886. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904.

R. W. PAIN. N I MEANS FOR REGULATING THE EXPRESSION OF MECHANICALMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21. 1903.

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No. 754,886. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904 R. W. PAIN. MEANS FOR REGULATING THEEXPRESSION OF MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1903.

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i i "Z UNITE STATES l atented March 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. PAIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COM- PANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR REGULATING THE EXPRESSION OF MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION fo g p o Letters Patent o. 754,886, dated March 15, 1904.

Application filed August 21, 1903. Serial No. 170,362- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. PAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in 'Means for Regulating theExpression of Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improved means for regulating the expressionof mechanical musical instruments-that is to say, improved meanswhereby, according to the will of the performer, such instrument shallproduce, for example, forte (loud) or mezzo-forte (medium loud) or piano(soft) or pianissimo (very soft) expression in an efficient satisfactorymanner and with good technique. Other modulations between forte'andpianissimo or otherwise may be provided for by an extension of the ideaexpressed in this invention, as hereinafter described.

The invention is intended for use particularly, though not exclusively,in mechanical piano-players, and while the invention will be hereinafterreferred to with particular reference to such mechanical piano-playersit will .be understood that the invention is not by reason thereofrestricted to such use, the illustrated example and description beingdirected merely as the statute requires to the best known'embodiment ofthe invention.

By this invention I provide a means for regulating or controlling theexpression that has been found practical, efficient, and eminentlysatisfactory.

To the end stated the invention resides in the novel combination andarrangement of elements hereinafter described, and set forth in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of so much of amechanical musical instrument (in this instance shown as an automaticpiano-player) as necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation showing the series of selectively-operable exhausters andtheir cooperative relation to the selecting-gate. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview illustrating one of the series of exhausters expanded and theadjacent correlated elements. Fig. 4: is a face view of the grid-likebox or casing in which the selecting and rewinding gates operate,showing the arrangement of the passages therein. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectional view of said box or cas- 5 5 ing and the selecting andrewinding gates operatively arranged therein. Fig. 6 is an elevation ofthe rewinding-gate. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the selecting-gate. Fig.8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the series of selectively-operableexhausters of different tension and a grid-like box or casing with theselecting and rewinding gates therein, the ports of the exhausters andthe ports of the grid-like box or casing being connected, for sake ofgraphic illustration, by pipes or conduits. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective view of one of the valves with which those of the series ofexhausters which will be hereinafter termed supplemental exhausters areprovided. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of such valve.

In the following specification a description of the best-knownembodiment of my inventionto wit, that adapted for operation in amechanical musical-instrument player organized on the vacuum or exhaustsystemwill be referred to, without, however, restricting the inventionto such particular embodiment, because said invention resides in theimproved 0 means for regulating or modifying the expressional functionof automatic musical instruments, whether embodied in an automaticmusical instrument player or otherwise and whether embodied in aninstrument of the 8 5 vacuum or exhaustion or pressure system.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the usual or anysuitable trackerboard, and 2 a perforated music-sheet which is caused tooperatively pass said tracker- 9o board-for example, from a roll 8 to aroll i as shown. The ducts of the tracker-board communicate in anysuitable manner, as by means of flexible tubes 5, with an action-box 6,(which may be of any approved or known construction,) that hasindependent valved communication with a predetermined number of motor-pneumatics 7, (these motor-pneumatics are shown in the drawings askeystriker-actuating pneumatics, but it will be understood that they mayinstead of operating fingers to strike keys of a musical instrument beactuated to cause the operation of other soundproducers,) the latterhaving operative connection with fingers 8, that are caused to actuatethe keys 9 of the musical in-v strument-for instance, the keys of apianothe arrangement being such, for example, and

as is usual wherein atmospheric pressure admitted through thenote-perforations of the music-sheet, the ducts of the tracker-board andthe conduits to the action-box, so disposes the controlling-valves ofthe motor-pneumatics that the latter are in a state to be exhausted oftheir contained air, by which exhaustion they are collapsed, and incollapsing cause their respective key-actuating fingers to operate.

The action-box 6 has communicationsuch, for instance, as illustrated at10 in the drawingswith a chamber 11, communicating by a port 12 with achamber 13, common to all the motor-pneumatics and which, as shown, iswithin and common to all the passages of a grid-like box or casing 14,interposed in the operative-circuit between the motor-pneumatics and thehereinafter-described exhausters and as best shown connectedly in Figs.1 and 5 of the drawings and diagrammatically in Fig. 8, in whichdiagrammatic view the pipes P are used arbitrarily to illustrate thecommunication between the passages of the box or casing 14 and theexhausters.

A series of passages 15, (see Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 8,) equal in numberwith the selectivelyoperable exhausters next referred to, lead from thiscommon chamber 13 through the grid-like gate box or casing to acorresponding series of independent conduits 16, which lead to and intothe several independent selectively-operable exhausters 17, which in theillustrated example of my invention are of the usual bellows form. Thepassage 15 from the said grid-like box or casing to what is hereinafterdesignated the main or controlling exhauster 18 consists in part of avacuum or what is commonly termed a wind chest 19. This vacuum or windchest communicates by valved ports 20 of any usual or known arrangementand construction with the usual vacuum maintaining device or pumps 21.

out of circuit by means of the selecting-gate, which normally isadjusted to close the corresponding passages 15 through said gate box orcasing and normally are also cut off from communication with the vacuumor wind chest 19 by means of valves 22, that close the passages 23,through which communication of the supplemental exhausters with thevacuum or wind chest is established. So normally they are not under theexhausting or collapsing influence of the vacuum in the chest 19 or theaction of the main or controlling exhauster 18, but are free whenbrought into circuit by manipulation of the selecting-gate to expandunder the influence of hereinafter-referred-to appurtenant tensionimparting devices or springs and exhaust the motor-pneumatic in thecircuit of action with the appropriate predetermined degree of tensionor force. The valves 22 are operated by the movement of the movableelement of the respective supplemental exhausters and preferably and asshown are of the following arrangement: The mouths of the passages 23,by which the said supplemental exhausters communicate with the wind orvacuum chest, are disposed within said exhausters and are formed insuitable blocks 24 or otherwise. The valves 22 are pivoted at one end tothese blocks and are connected at their free ends with the movableelement of said exhausters by means of rodand-button connections 25,whereby they are caused to open and close the passages to the wind 01'vacuum chest, according to the direction of movement of the said movableelement of the exhausters, as in expanding or collapsing. These valves,as shown at 26, are spring-pressed against the face of the blocks 24 toclose the mouths of said passages airtight.

The passages 15 through the grid-like gate box or casing are selectivelyopened or closed by means of a selecting-gate 27, provided with ports28, so disposed in the gate that when one of the ports is opened theothers are closed. It will be observed that in the drawings but twoports 28 are shown. In this embodiment of the gate, however,to whichdetail the invention is not restricted, the gate is so proportioned thatwhen adjusted to one extreme or the other one of the end passages willbe open and the other closed. This gate may be moved by the performer bymeans of any suitable manipulatingmechanism, a preferable and novelthough not exclusive arrangement being illustrated in the drawings andconsisting of a rod 29, connected by a link 30 with a crank-arm 31 of arock-shaft 32, suitably mounted in any desired manner. The rock-shaft 32is also provided with a crankarm 33, connected by a link 34 with apivoted operating-handle 35, movable in a slot 36 in the casing of theinstrument, with its handle 37 exposed and in convenient position formanipulation by the performer. The op- Grating-handle is normally heldin position to maintain the selecting-valve in that position which opensthe passage 15 in the gate box or casing to establish communicationbetween the motor-pneumatics and the main or controlling exhauster 18 bymeans of a spring 38.- The operating-handle may by the performer be somoved that it will open selectively either of the passages 15 throughthe gate box or casing, bringing into circuit the selected exhauster andclosing the passages of the other exhausters. As shown, theoperating-handle is movable in front of a scale S, provided withsuitable indicia sueh, for instance, as PP, P, MFRand F- to designate,respectively, pianissimo, piano, mezzo-forte, and forte. By moving theoperating-handle until it comes opposite the designation MF on the scalethe selectingvalve Wlll be moved to open communication with thatsupplemental exhauster which in the example of my invention shown in thedrawings" operates to impart a mezzo-forte touch to the key-actuatingfingers, and by moving it opposite the designation P that exhausterwhich operates to impart a piano touch to the key-actuating fingers isbrought into operation, and likewise the exhauster which causes thefingers to actuate the keys of the pianissimo touch is brought intooperation when the handle is moved opposite the designation PP. Saidhandle is normally maintained by the spring 38, as before stated, inposition opposite the designation F of the scale, in which positionthereof the main or controlling exhauster 18 is in cirranged within saidexhausters, normally tend ing and operating when free so to' do toexpand them.

I have illustrated a series of four exhausters of difierent tension, themain or control ling exhauster being provided, for instance, with twosprings each having a fourteenpound tension or pull, the supplementalex,

hausters being provided, respectively, for example, one with two springseach of sixpound tension or pull, the second with a spring ofseven-pound tension or pull, and the third with a spring of six-poundtension or pull. Additional supplemental exhausters may be employed, ifdesired, to obtain degrees of expression other than those referred to,if desired, and such will be merely an extension of the principle of myinvention. The result of the provision of this series ofselectively-operable exhausters of different tension is, speaking withreference to the particular embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings, that the pressure or stroke of the key-actuating fingers maybe regulated to impart a maximum force or pressure, or a minimumpressure or stroke, or a pressure or stroke of intermediate force,dependent upon which of the selectively-operable exhausters is broughtinto operation by manipulation of the selecting-gate.

For the purpose of illustration let it be supposed that a particularpiece of music, perforated in the music-sheet, requires that someparticular part thereof be played pianissimo. The performer being guidedby his knowledge of the piece of music or in the exercise of hisindividual interpretation thereof or by means of well-known indicatorswith which music-sheets are provided will by manipulation'of theselecting-gate cause a port thereof to register with that passage in thegridlike gate box or casing that connects the cham ber 13 with thepassage 15, leading to and communicating with the exhauster of leasttension, bringing said exhauster into operative circuit from the keypneumatic to the pumps and at the same time cutting out all otherexhausters. Now when a perforation in the music-sheet passes one of theducts in the tracker-board atmospheric pressure is admitted through saidduct and the corresponding conduit 5 to the action-box 6, whereby in thewell-known or any suitable way the valves controlling the correspondingkey-pneumatic are so disposed that the said pneumatic is in proper stateto be exhausted. The exhauster of least tension which is operatively incircuit thereupon acts and exhausts or collapses the key-pneumatic,exerting a tension or pull of, say, six pounds in so doing and causingthe keyactuating finger to actuate the key of the musical instrumentwith a soft, light, or pianissimo touch. The operation of exhausting thepneumatic described is of course accomplished with great rapidity andwhen my invention is embodied in a machine organized as particularlyshown by an expanding movement of the exhauster less than its fullcapacity of expansion. In the pneumatic exhausting or expanding movementof the exhauster the movable element thereof opens the valve 22 just atthe time the exhaustion or collapsing of the keypneumatic has beenaccomplished, thus placing said exhauster in communication with thevacuum or wind chest 19 and the high-tension main or controllingexhauster, whereupon said exhauster is itself immediately exhausted, andin collapsing the valve 22 closes the passage to the wind-chest and thesaid exhauster is in condition for further operation when called upon.Precisely the same operation takes place when either of the othersupplemental exhausters are selected or brought into the circuit bymanipulation of the selectinggate, except that the action of such othersupplemental exhausters is, according to the tensional value thereof,exerted with greater tension or pull, causing the key-actuating fingersto perform their function with a more forceful touch to cause the pianoor forte or other expression, according to which thereof is brought intooperation.

It will be understood, of course, that the action of the main exhausteris similar to that of the supplemental exhausters, except that itproduces a greater pull or tension on the keypneumatics and causes alouder or fortissimo touch of the fingers upon the keys of theinstrument. The main exhauster is, as stated alcove, normally in circuitand will normally act, but may be cut out and its place taken by one ofthe supplemental exhausters at the will of the performer.

I consider it preferable to provide what has been herein termed a mainor controlling exhauster, which is always in communication with thepumps or vacuum-maintainer, as it constitutes, as it were, a reservoir,which without any possibility of hesitation collapses the supplementalexhausters. In the broader aspects of the invention, however, thecontrolling character of this exhauster is not absolutely essential,because the pumps or vacuummaintaining device of the apparatus will actto exhaust such supplemental exhausters. I have found, however, that itis preferable, though not absolutely essential, that a main orcontrolling exhauster such as above described be utilized, as it actsinstantaneously and always to collapse the supplemental exhausters whenthey have performed their functions. The regulating means, however, ofmy invention will be operative if this so-called main or controllingexhauster had communication with the vacuum or wind chest 19 in the samemanner as what are termed the supplemental exhausters, in whicharrangement the pumps or vacuum-maintainer would operate to exhaust andcollapse each of the series of exhausters forming the subject of myinvention.

In the foregoing description and in the claims appended hereto I use theterm series as comprehending a number of exhaust ers greater than two.

According to my invention each of the series of exhausters is incommunication with all of the series of motor-pneumatics, thecommunication of each of said exhausters with the series ofmotor-pneumatics is independent of the communication of the others ofsaid exhausters therewith, and means are provided for selectivelycutting part of said exhausters into and the others out of operation, tothe end that any note either in the treble or bass or any othersubdivision of scale may be accentuated, and the same accentuation inany degree of force may be imparted to simultaneously-played notes inany or all subdivisions of scale.

It will be observed that one, though by no means the only characteristicof my invention, and to which characteristic in other respects theinvention is not restricted, is that the exhausters are independent eachof the other and that the selective mechanism for cutting into and outof operation such exhausters is of such character that when oneexhauster is brought into operation the others are cut out.

The rewinding-gate is designated by the reference-numeral 39. It ismovably disposed in the grid-like gate-box or casing 14 and is providedwith ports 40, which while the piece of music is being played areadjusted into register with the passages 15 15 in said box or casing, sothat any one of said passages may be by adjustment of the selecting-gateopened. hen, however, it is desired to rewind the music-sheet, it willnot ordinarily be desired that the instrument operate, and therewinding-gate may be adjusted to close all the passages through thegate-box or casing, thus cutting out all operation of the exhausters.

A convenient manner of manipulating the rewinding-gate is shown in thedrawings and consists of mechanism similar to that hereinbeforedescribed in connection with the selecting-gate that is to say, therewindinggate is connected by a rod 41 and a link 42 with a crank-arm 43to a rock-shaft 44. A second crank-arm 45 on the rock-shaft provided,being connected with a link 46, to which a pivoted operating-handle 47is connected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. In a mechanicalmusical instrument, the combination with motor-pneumatics and a chambercommon to all of said pi'ieumatics, of a series of exhausters ofdifferent tension having independent communication with said chamber,and means for selectively cutting part of said exhausters into and theothers out of circuit with all the motor-pneumatics.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the

combination with n'iotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of saidpneumatics, of a series of exhausters of different tension havingindependent communication with said chamber, and manually-operable meansfor selectively cutting part of said exhausters into and the others outof circuit with all the motor-pneumatics. 3. In a mechanical musicalinstrument, the combination with motor-pneumatics and a chamber commonto all of said pneumatics, of a series of exhausters of differenttension having independent communication with said chamber, and meanscomprising a gate to control such communication and adapted to beoperated to selectively open and closecommunication between each of saidexhausters and said pneumatics.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of different tension, a valve-box located in thecircuit of communication between said pneumatics and said exhausters andprovided with a series of independent passages leading to saidexhausters and to said chamber, and means comprising a gate in saidvalve-box to selectively open and close said passages.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of diflerenttension, having independentcommunication with said chamber, means comprising a gate to selectivelyopen and close communication of each of said exhausters with saidpneumatics, and a vacuum-maintainer in communication with saidexhausters.

6. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of different tension comprising a main orcontrolling exhauster, said series of exhausters having independentcommunication with said chamber, and means for selectively cutting partof said exhausters into and the others out of circuit with saidmotorpneumatics.

7. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of different tension comprising a main orcontrolling exhauster, said series of exhausters having independentcommunication with said chamber, and manuallyoperable means forselectively cutting part of said exhausters into and the others out ofcircuit with said motor-pneumatics.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of different tension comprising a main orcontrolling eXhauster, said series of exhausters having independent communication with. said chamber, and means comprising agate to selectivelycut part of said exhausters into and others out of communication withsaid pneumatics.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics, a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, and avacuum-maintainer, of a series of exhausters of different tension havingindependent communication with said chamber and with saidvacuum-maintainer, means comprising a gate to selectively open and closethe communication of each of said exhausters with said motor-pneumatics,and valves to control the communication of said exhausters with thevacurim-maintainer.

10. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics, a chamher common to all of said pneumatics, and avacuum-maintainer, of a series of exhausters of different tension havingindependent communication with said chamber and also having independentcommunication with said vacuum-maintainer, means comprising a gate toselectively open and close the communication of each of said exhausterswith the motorpneumatics, and valves located in said exhausters tocontrol the communication of the latter with the vacuum-maintainer.

11. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics, a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, and avacuum-maintainer, of a series of exhausters of different tension havingindependent communication with said chamber, and also having independentcommunication with said vacuum-maintainer, means comprising a gate toselectively open and close the communication of each of said exhausterswith the motorpneumatics, and valves located in and operated by amovable element of said exhausters to control the communication of thelatter with the vacuum-maintainer.

12. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics, a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, and avacuum-maintainer, of a series of exhausters of different tension havingindependent communication with said chamber, and comprising a main orcontrolling eXhauster and supplemental exhausters, means comprising agate to selectively open and close the communication of each of saidexhausters with the motorpneumatics, and valves to control thecommunication of the supplemental exhausters with the vacuum-maintainer.

13. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics, a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, and avacuum-maintainer, of a series of exhausters of difiierent tensionhaving independent communication with said chamber, means comprising agate to selectively open and close the communication of said exhausterswith said chamber, and a gate to cut the series of exhausters out ofoperation.

14. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with motorpneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of a seriesof exhausters of different tension having independent communication withsaid chamber, means comprising a gate and a device connected to andoperating said gate to selectively cut part of said exhausters into andothers out of circuit with all the motorpneumatics, and a guide scalecooperating with said gate-operating device to guide the performer inmanipulating the gate.

15. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination withmotor-pneumatics and a chamber common to all of said pneumatics, of aseries of exhausters of diiierent tension having independentcommunication with said chamber, means comprising a gate, and a han- IIn testimony whereof I have hereunto set die connected to and operatingsaid gate to my hand 111 presence of two subscribing Witselectively outpart of said exhausters into nesses.

and others out of circuit with all the motor- ROBERT WV. PAIN.pneumatics, and a guide-scale cooperating \Vitnesses:

with said handle to guide the performer in \V. C. MANSFIELD,

manipulating the gate. V. H. ALFRING.

